New Year's Resolve

 Happy 2026!

Last year was pretty slow for me, hobby-wise. I mean, yes, okay, I painted an Emperor's Children army, I played at least one online Necromunda match every month for the KnockRat and beat Pootle at 40K three times running. I even (nearly) finished collecting Necromunda models for all my gangs, and made an ash wastes table. So not totally quiet!

My hobby impetus has been kind of low, though. Partly through having no cupboard space left unfilled, partly through the sort of late edition malaise that 40K tends to engender and partly through Necromunda remaining very much a niche within the hobby niche that has been hard to get people snowballing and hence playing over.

What I did do with my hobby time was start running games night at my local theatre once a month. We've played stuff ranging from Dune to Saboteur, mostly more traditional board and card games. I did shoehorn some Space Hulk in there, and even a bit of 1st ed WFRP. 

Speaking of which, I've been roleplaying again. Playing as a barbarian in a very bespoke 5th ed DnD campaign, which is very much focussed on story above combat, has been really good fun. And playing through the Olderhaller Contract a couple of times with different groups as a sidebar was the cherry on top. I've really missed seeing a group of people overthinking how to open a door, it's good to be back behind the DM's screen as well as in front of it. 

Here's a couple of new models, slapped together from spare old bits just in time to welcome a new year, despite my wargames backwatering!

First, a Firing Wraith to ride alongside the recent Road Knight. A Battlemaster Knight horse topped with one of the Goblin Wolf Rider bodies from the same game, then a Land Speeder assault cannon jammed unsoundly into most of a DnL gargoyle. Some cables from recent Necromunda kits, and appropriate paint to go with. 

Together at last. Hmm. Maybe I need another two, for a Four Horsemen Wastes gang...

Second, a rocket walker for the wastes of Necromunda. Very much a bits box special, it's the legs from the old plastic beetleback Warlord Titans given new life with bits of Taurox Prime, Leviathan Dreadnought, Ghostkeel Suit and Slave Ogryn gewgaws. Very awkward looking, especially with its mismatched feet, but somehow kind of convincing at the same time. 

I even made it a little hat, from one of the oldest bits in the whole box - the dorsal turret from an Airfix Flying Fortress, bought and build c.1989. 

What will the year ahead bring? Not sure - more board and roleplaying games, for sure. And I am determined to get to grips with the Necromunda vehicle rules, maybe get a short and contained narrative campaign done, based on the rules for plundering a forgotten hive from the fairly recent mutant genestealer rulebook. You know the drill, easy in, easy out, home in time for Christmas...

Only one other mission, which is a hangover from the last two years. Stylus, I shall beat you at Blood Bowl and die trying. Excelsiaarrgh!